With the help of special medicines and vaccines, this sudden plague was quickly extinguished. It came and went in a hurry.
The bloody battle between Evelin and Anna also came to an end for the time being, because a large number of people on both sides died of illness. Evelin's side was much more serious, and there was a shortage of manpower, so they had to stop fighting.
After the plague, the entire Violet family lived a rare period of peace, with no shootings, no explosions, and no deaths.
Taking advantage of this period of time, Xu Cheng went out day and night to investigate all the remaining people on the list, including Anna's house, which he visited several times.
In the end, the whereabouts of Ito Rika was still not found, and the previous female Spider-Man was not encountered again.
He believes that there are only two possibilities for this situation.
The first is that there is a problem with his thinking. These direct blood descendants who have left Europe have nothing to do with the disappearance of Ito Rika.
The second is that Rika Ito was placed in an extremely secret place, and there was even someone to take care of her, so he couldn't find her.
No matter which possibility it was, Xu Cheng's investigation was already in trouble. Even if he turned into a shadow and wandered around every night, he really couldn't find any useful clues.
On Evelin's side, due to the heavy loss of intelligence personnel in the plague and the struggle with Anna, there is now a serious shortage of personnel, and she can no longer be of much help.
In the blink of an eye, another half month has passed, and the Violet family has welcomed Christmas. The originally tense and solemn atmosphere finally relaxed a little.
Christmas trees and garlands of colorful balls have begun to be decorated in various manor territories, bringing a bit of festive atmosphere to this cold winter.
According to custom, the Violet family will hold a grand Christmas ball on Christmas Eve. Especially since we have suffered from the plague this year, it should be even more lively.
The Snow Mountain Manor was also decorated very festively, and both the servants and guards were smiling.
Every year at this time, Evelin would prepare a heavy Christmas gift for everyone, which was at least half a year's salary.
"I'm so jealous that you can go to the dance."
Dinah, who was half lying on the bed, looked disappointed: "But I can only lie at home and can't go anywhere."
Although she had saved her life from the plague, the serious illness still left Dinah physically weak to this day. She has not yet recovered and cannot exercise vigorously, so she can only rest at home.
In previous years, she was most looking forward to the Yule Ball. It was a pity that she couldn't go this year. What made her even more disappointed was that her sister would go to the ball with Archer, leaving her alone at home, which made her feel abandoned.
Xu Cheng, who was sitting by the bed, said without raising his head: "Then do you want me to stay with you?"
Dinah subconsciously wanted to agree, but in the end she shook her head: "Forget it, you can stay with me at home anytime, and the Yule Ball only happens once a year."
Xu Cheng glanced at her: "When did you become so reasonable?"
Dinah immediately puffed up her mouth: "I have always been so reasonable."
She lied. She actually wanted Xu Cheng to stay with her, but her sister would definitely not agree, and would instead teach her a lesson.
Instead of making arbitrary demands that are bound to not come true, it is better to pretend to be generous.
"Yes, reasonable aunt."
"Stop calling me aunt..."
Dinah murmured in a low voice. She used to like hearing Archer call her that, but now she felt that the name "aunt" was harsh, locking the identity of the two of them.
She quietly looked at Xu Cheng's side face, and suddenly asked in a low voice with a blushing face: "That day when I was about to die of illness...do you still remember that incident?"
Xu Cheng looked at her with confusion: "What's the matter?"
The shyness on Dinah's face immediately turned into anger, and she turned her face away: "Humph, forget it if you don't remember."
Xu Cheng knew what Dinah was referring to, but he was not in the mood to pick up girls now. He had been having a headache recently because he could not find the whereabouts of Ito Rika.
The bedroom door was suddenly pushed open, and Evelin dressed up walked in.
She was wearing a low-cut evening dress, revealing her huge smooth shoulders and delicate collarbones that could keep a goldfish. Her neck was as slender as a swan, and her skin had the texture of fine porcelain under the light, which was dazzling.
The blue dress matches her proud and cool temperament, making her look like the ice and snow princess from the story.
Even Xu Cheng, who was already used to seeing goddesses, was a little surprised at this moment.
And Evelin was also very satisfied with Xu Cheng, who was wearing a men's dress. Although this nephew was still relatively young, he already showed an outstanding appearance. He looked like a young and handsome prince in a dress.
"Archer, let's go."
Xu Cheng stood up and walked over, according to the code of conduct of a gentleman and lady, and stretched out his arms to her.
Evelin gave a rare look of approval, then stretched out her hand and gently raised his arm.
According to the custom of the Yule Ball, adult direct descendants need to find a dance partner to attend the party, otherwise they will be laughed at.
In previous years, Evelin attended the dance alone and was secretly laughed at. This year she was finally able to feel proud.
She and Xu Cheng stood together. Although they were not a match made in heaven, they were both handsome enough to blind people.
Dinah's eyes were stung, and she couldn't help but said: "Sister, aren't you afraid of being laughed at? You can use your nephew to make up for it."
"There's no rule that they can't be relatives."
Evelin replied calmly, while glancing at her sister: "I know what you are thinking, just rest in peace and cultivate yourself."
Dinah felt that her sister's words suddenly touched her heart, and she immediately felt guilty, lowered her head and did not dare to say anything anymore.
Looking at her autistic sister, Evelin sighed in her heart, turned to glance at Xu Cheng's side face, and then left the bedroom with her arm in his arms.
The two people, dressed in costumes, were escorted by servants and left the mansion all the way to the gate. Guard captain Ed had been waiting here with his motorcade for a long time.
The two of them got into the car together, and the motorcade left the manor and headed towards the castle where the Christmas ball was being held.
Meanwhile, at Lake Manor.
Virgil was walking back and forth in the living room. This movement showed his inner anxiety, but the smile on his face was full of expectation.
After getting rid of his fiancée, Virgil became a happy single again. However, he remembered Qiu Gongyue's warning and did not pursue her rashly. He only inquired after her every day.
However, after being troubled by her fiancée last time, Qiu Gongyue's attitude towards Virgil changed from friendly to wary, and she kept a sufficient distance from him no matter what she did.
Virgil saw it in his eyes and was anxious in his heart, but he didn't dare to force himself - mainly because he couldn't beat him.
He waited impatiently, and finally asked him to wait for a good opportunity. Tonight's Christmas dance, if he seizes the opportunity, the relationship between the two may develop by leaps and bounds.
For this reason, Virgil invited Qiu Miyazuki to attend the Yule Ball with him on the grounds that he might be in danger tonight.
Taking into account the safety of his collaborators, Qiu Gongyue agreed, and Virgil immediately gave Qiu Gongyue the artificial evening dress he had purchased with a lot of money.
He was now in a mood of great anticipation and couldn't wait to see Qiu Gongyue in her evening dress.
The door to the living room was suddenly pushed open. Virgil looked over with joy, but the smile on his face suddenly froze.
Qiu Gongyue didn't even put on the evening dress he had carefully prepared, and was still wearing regular clothes.
After being stunned, he asked eagerly: "Miss Xu Yue, why don't you put on an evening dress?"
Qiu Gongyue said calmly: "Is that what you prepared for your fiancée? Keep it well. It would be too wasteful to wear it for others. I just wear my own clothes."
Virgil said hurriedly: "If you don't wear an evening dress, you can't attend the ball."
Qiu Gongyue shook her head: "Don't worry, no one can find me, including the Archer Vt. Grant you mentioned. I will keep an eye on him."
That kind of thing doesn't even matter!
Virgil roared in his heart, but he couldn't find a suitable reason in his eagerness.
"So be it."
Qiu Gongyue waved her hand, turned around and walked out of the living room.
How could she not see what this guy was thinking, so she didn't give him a chance at all.
Virgil stared at Qiu Gongyue's back with a disappointed look on his face.
…
After Xu Cheng and Evelin left, Dinah sat quietly on the bed, fiddling with her phone boredly.
The mobile phone signal has disappeared, and there is no way to access the Internet, make calls, or contact the outside world, because the nearby base station was destroyed by mutated animals, and there are no government personnel to repair it.
Now only the paradise of the Violet family is still in the mood to hold a Christmas dance, and the outside world has long since become a mess.
After putting down the phone, Dinah picked up another book and read it. As a result, she was not in the mood to read it at all. She quickly flipped through a few pages and threw it aside, replacing it with a magazine.
The fate of the magazine was the same. It lasted less than half a minute before being thrown away.
"Ahhhhh!"
Dinah held her head in her hands and shouted in annoyance.
No matter what she did, random thoughts always came to her mind.
What about "sister and Archer danced to a song at the dance and sparks sparked", what about "the drunk sister pushed Archer back to Stockholm with the help of alcohol", and what about "the pushed Archer fell in love with his sister from Stockholm after being pushed back from Stockholm".
"Miss, what's wrong?"
The panicked little maid burst in.
Dinah, who was making monkey noises, suddenly returned to her ladylike state, waved her hand and said, "It's okay, I'm practicing my voice. You can go out."
"Practice your voice?"
The little maid was stunned. Dinah's eyes that wanted to kill someone interrupted her urge to ask further, and she hurriedly turned around and stood guard outside the door.
After the little maid left, Dinah sighed deeply.
She knew she was poisoned.
I am addicted to a poison called liking.
The moment she was infected with the plague and on the verge of death, Dinah grew up and figured out many things that she had been ignorant of before.
But why do you like it?
Dinah herself didn't know that she hated this guy so much before.
But from that day when I was with my sister and was protected by this guy in a corner with my life, my dislike for him suddenly turned into a favorable impression.
I like to play with him, like to see his beautiful face and beautiful voice. I miss him very much after being apart for a while, and I feel uncomfortable when I see him with other women.
In fact, this guy is just a little handsome, a little funny, a little talented, a little strong, and a little safe...
Dinah mentally counted Xu Cheng's little bits of excellence, trying to find a few shortcomings, but as she continued to count, she started to giggle infatuatedly.
thump!
The sound of something heavy falling to the ground suddenly woke Dinah out of her reverie.
She hurriedly wiped away a little wetness at the corner of her mouth with her hands and shouted to the door: "What's the matter?"
The little maid's voice didn't sound, and it was quiet outside.
Dinah thought the little maid had left because of something, but suddenly she realized something was wrong.
It's so quiet.
The entire manor seemed to have fallen into dead silence, with no movement at all.
Tonight is Christmas Eve, and Christmas music will be played in the manor all night long. The servants and guards will also have dinner and entertainment together until late at night.
Dinah could still hear music and laughter just now, but why was there no sound at all now.
Just as she was about to get up, she saw the bedroom door pushed open and a woman wearing a tight black leather jacket and a black hood walked in.
Dinah was slightly stunned, and immediately used her ability, quickly entering the invisible state.
Take it!
The woman in black raised her hand, and a flying knife suddenly shot out, flying past Dinah's face and sinking deeply into the wall behind her, scaring her out of her invisibility.
"You can try again and see which one is faster, your stealth speed or my knife?"
A mocking voice sounded from under the woman's mask: "Next time I will target your pretty face."
Dinah swallowed, trying to suppress the panic in her heart, and her face returned to calm: "What are you going to do?"
"oh?"
The woman let out a yelp of surprise at Dinah's ability to regain her composure so quickly.
I thought this family, namely Evelin and Archer, would be more troublesome, but I didn't expect that a little girl could be so calm.
If she left it alone, she might become the second Evelin in the future.
"Don't worry, I'm just asking you to be my guest."
The woman in black smiled, then walked towards Dinah, and took out a handkerchief from her body: "Be good, don't resist, and you won't get hurt."
Dinah didn't resist. She was well aware of the strength gap between the two sides and it was useless to resist.
"You better keep your word and don't hurt me."
Dinah said calmly: "Otherwise, my sister and Archer will never let you go. You are reduced to using me as a hostage. You must be very aware of their capabilities."
The face of the woman in black changed slightly, as if she was annoyed that something was being said.
If it weren't for Archer and Evelin's troubles, why would they come here specifically to kidnap a little girl.
She wanted to teach this little girl a lesson, but in the end she didn't dare. She just covered Dinah's mouth and nose with a handkerchief, knocked her unconscious, then wrapped her in a quilt and carried her away.
Not long after the woman in black took Dinah away, Xu Cheng slowly emerged from a shadow in the empty bedroom.
After the woman in black came in, he watched the entire process and watched Dinah being captured, because this was originally part of the plan - to lure the snake out of its hole.
Evelin judged that Anna would definitely take action on Christmas Eve, and under Xu Cheng's repeated assurances of Dinah's safety, Evelin agreed to let her sister stay at home and act as bait.
However, the bait that Evelin thought was that the enemies were attracted to the manor by Dinah, and then Xu Cheng annihilated them all.
But Xu Cheng had different ideas. In his plan, Dinah, as a bait, would be captured by the enemy and expose the enemy's lair.
All tactics are turned to stealing. Killing a few cannon fodder is meaningless. Stealing is the key to victory.
(End of chapter)
